Choosing Leather
Buying a leather loveseat for a room is a perfect way to give it touch of style and class. As with all materials, finding a good, quality piece isn't as easy as it seems. Many products appear to be leather at first glance, but upon further inspection, end up being faux leather, pleather, or even vinyl. The following are some leather basics to consider before purchasing your leather loveseat: - The most important step to buying leather is determining the grade. Top grain, the top layer of the hide, is the preferred leather for furniture because it's thicker and the color runs more evenly throughout the piece. You can do a simple touch test; higher-grade leather should be more supple and soft.
- The other grade, split leather, is the bottom layer of the hide and is less durable because it's not as thick. This is the type of leather often processed into suede. It's going to feel tougher than and not as smooth as top grain.
- One of the problems with upholstered leather furniture is that you really can't do a thorough inspection. You can't see the other side of the leather to judge its quality. Get swatches so you can get a better sense of what the furniture is really made of.
- Although leather is a very durable material, there are some care instructions you need to know. You can have your furniture finished (extra buffing, moisturizing and waterproofing). This is important if you have children.
- It's also a good idea to keep leather furniture out of direct sunlight, or if that's not possible, choose a leather conditioner with a UV protector.
- Pets and leather furniture can be a bad combination. As tough as leather may be, it's no match for a dog or cat with sharp claws. And repairing a leather chair or couch can be an expensive, and sometimes impossible task.
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